Local student takes steps to become a leader

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While most kids are playing Follow the Leader, St. Dominic eighth-grader Molly Simms is taking steps toward becoming a leader. She is taking part in Presentation Academy's 16th annual Eighth Grade Leadership Forum in Louisville. The program, which is for eighth-grade girls in Catholic schools, consists of three sessions held during the school year. The first was on Oct. 5, and Simms just returned from the second session held Nov. 11. The final session will take place on Feb. 16, 2011.

"We do activities to help us become leaders," she said. "The first day, we went to classes dealing with problem solving. This past Friday, we went to the Courier-Journal and we talked about how to build the Web site."

Participants receive training on topics ranging from group dynamics, communication, goal setting and problem solving. Simms is the only student from Washington County. St. Dominic principal Pam Bruenig said Simms was selected based on an essay she wrote.

"Since I had to select someone, I came up with the idea of nor selecting or nominating somebody, because a leader is going to be someone who will step up and I wanted to see who would come forward," said Bruenig. "I told the girls I wanted an essay on the qualities a leader should possess and Molly did it, she stepped up with a very nice essay. We think she is representing us well."

"This is teaching me how to take charge and not hold back," Simms added. "I play a lot of sports and I'm usually the captain on the team. This will help me handle certain situations and be a better leader, not just now but through my whole life."

For more information on Presentation Academy's Leadership Program, visit www.presentationacademy.org.